I run a training class in Shu Han

Chapter 128 Fire Attack?

"Pass down the order: the rear guard shall form ranks and hold their ground, while the left flank shall outflank and encircle the enemy, annihilating them all."

Li Yan drew his sword and roared angrily, spittle flying out with his fury.

With the central army flag waved, Zhao Rong, the left-wing general, dared not delay and immediately assembled his cavalry, turning the rear guard into the vanguard, and maneuvering to outflank and intercept the enemy.

Unfortunately, the enemy did not linger in battle. After a wave of mounted archery, they immediately rode away. Zhao Rong couldn't even catch their tail, so he could only clench his fist and slam it hard on his thigh.

"General Li, our army suffered 'over a hundred casualties' in this battle, but the losses are not significant."

When his personal guards came forward to report the battle losses, Li Yan was furious.

The loss wasn't significant, but we completely lost face.

If the enemy forces break through from the middle, their iron hooves will cause far more casualties than just this few men.

Moreover, morale will be greatly affected.

"Where is the former commander-in-chief?"

Enraged, Li Yan wanted to investigate the responsibility for the defeat in this battle.

The vanguard's primary combat mission is to scout ahead, clear the way, and ensure that the main force is not ambushed.

As the vanguard general, Chen failed to send out sentries for defense, which is a major taboo in military strategy.

Chen was speechless, and lowered her head in shame, saying, "This humble general has failed in his duty, please punish me, General."

Looking at this general who had once led the vanguard of the navy into the Wu region, Li Yan was filled with emotion.

Like everyone else, he assumed the exercise would begin once the main force reached the designated location, and thus became somewhat complacent.

When we crossed that hillside earlier, although I could tell from experience that there was danger at a glance, I didn't take it seriously, which led to the enemy's sneak attack.

Li Yan clenched his fists and gritted his teeth, saying, "As I have said, this exercise is no child's play, and no soldier should slack off."

"In the defeat just now, although the vanguard general Chen was negligent, I, as the commander-in-chief of the three armies, was also negligent in my oversight. According to military law, the two of us should receive twenty strokes of the military rod."

"After the exercise, I will go and admit my guilt."

After Li Yan finished speaking, the entire army fell silent, their previous arrogance completely gone.

During this exercise, they looked down on the new generals and soldiers on the other side, believing that the so-called military books they had read were far inferior to their own practical experience.

But it was precisely these recruits, whom they had taken for granted, who taught them a good lesson.

Warfare is based on deception!

At this moment, the entire army put aside their underestimation of the enemy, and the atmosphere was filled with the sentiment of "revenge and vindication".

"Mr. Chen, heed my command!"

Mr. Chen clasped his hands together, his eyes resolute.

"Immediately send men to scout and explore the area. Once the vanguard arrives at the exercise location, make sure to thoroughly investigate every inch of the surrounding land and construct defensive fortifications. There must be no mistakes."

"yes!"

"Where are the cavalry?" Li Yan asked again.

"Your subordinate is here!"

"Quickly dispatch patrol cavalry to escort the army forward."

"Yes, sir!"

After making the arrangements, Li Yan waved his hand.

"Set off."

After marching for nearly an hour, the army arrived at the exercise location.

The exercise took place in the hilly area ten miles west of the city.

The terrain here is gently undulating, and although the wilderness is open, the mountains and forests are dense enough to hide tens of thousands of soldiers.

The two armies each occupied one end, creating a stalemate.

After the army arrived, Chen had already surveyed the terrain and chosen a place with open terrain, far from dense forests, to set up camp and build defensive fortifications on the front.

After the troops arrived, they all set up camp in accordance with this method, far away from the dense forest, forming a defensive perimeter, and the general's flag was slowly raised in the central command tent.

"General Li, the enemy is hiding in the mountains and forests. There is a mountain to the northwest of here, which can be used to look down on the enemy. If we capture this mountain, we will be able to control the enemy's movements."

The army had barely arrived and had not yet set up camp when Chen proposed an attack plan, determined to avenge his previous humiliation.

Li Yan looked in the direction Chen was pointing and saw the dark mountain range opposite. He nodded and ordered, "General Chen, you shall immediately lead your troops to capture this mountain."

"Yes, sir!"

Chen immediately summoned his troops to prepare to take over the northwestern mountains, while Li Yan led everyone into the central command tent, unfolded the topographical map, and immediately began to discuss the attack plan.

Before Li Yan could even settle in, war drums thundered from all directions, and the sounds of battle shook the heavens.

"General, the enemy is attacking!"

"A soldier burst into the tent and said."

Li Yan remained calm upon hearing the commotion and rebuked, "What's the panic? Pass down the order to form ranks and fight the enemy."

Although the army had just set up camp, it was not unprepared.

The vanguard army has already built defensive fortifications, which can be used to resist sudden attacks from the enemy.

Moreover, Li Yan had long anticipated that the other side might take this opportunity to launch a sneak attack, so he arranged for an elite force to be on standby at any time.

"Zhao Yun, Zhao Yun, do you really trust those inexperienced brats so much?"

Li Yan knew that Zhao Yun was always cautious in his military tactics, and that such a sneak attack was definitely the idea of ​​those people from the Imperial Academy.

I'm not one of those good-for-nothings, how could I not have noticed?

"Gentlemen, now that the enemy has delivered themselves to our doorstep, let's teach them a lesson and show them the difference between us."

Everyone inside the tent burst into laughter.

A short while later, more soldiers stumbled into the tent.

"General Li, something terrible has happened! The enemy... the enemy has set the mountain on fire!"

What?

Li Yan and his generals were greatly surprised upon hearing this.

The exercise stipulated that cavalry were not allowed to charge or use fire attacks.

Once the fire starts, it will not only burn down the forests, but also cause innocent casualties among the soldiers.

"impossible!"

Li Yan loudly denied it.

He absolutely did not believe that Zhao Yun would use such a vicious fire attack.

Moreover, the army's encampment was far from dense forests, so even if the enemy used fire to attack, it would not reach the army.

"Have you found out anything?" Li Yan asked.

The soldier nodded and said, "The enemy troops sneaked over just now, but the brothers at the outpost spotted them and immediately threw torches at the main force. Thick smoke has already spread over."

As soon as he finished speaking, everyone inside the tent smelled a strong odor of smoke, and their expressions changed drastically.

Could it be that the other side really used fire as a weapon?

This is a drill!

The people on the other side are all comrades-in-arms!

Is it possible that in order to win, they would resort to such unscrupulous means?

Li Yan rushed out of the tent with his sword drawn, only to see thick fog surging in from all directions, choking the soldiers so much that they covered their mouths and noses, tears streaming down their faces.

"Where is the Commander-in-Chief? Where is the Commander-in-Chief?" Li Yan roared, drawing his sword in a fit of rage.

"Hey...cough cough!" A warlord, his eyes red from choking on the thick smoke, rushed up to Li Yan.

"The other side used fire attacks and seriously violated exercise regulations. How should this be handled?"

"When...when the opponent is declared the loser...cough cough!"

"In that case, I'll trouble the Commander-in-Chief to inform Prime Minister Zhuge Liang and end this pointless exercise... cough cough!!"

Li Yan was also choked by the thick smoke and started coughing.

"This humble general will go now... cough cough cough!!!"

Just then, another warlord, covering his mouth and nose, ran up to Li Yan.

"General Li..."

Before he could speak, Li Yan hurriedly asked, "Commander-in-Chief, is this a message from Prime Minister Zhuge?"

The man shook his head and said, "This humble general has come... to inform General Li that the exercise will continue!"

What?

Upon hearing this, Li Yan pointed at the thick smoke in front of him and shouted, "The enemy used a trick, launching a fire attack to raid our camp. As the commander-in-chief, you not only failed to declare them the loser, but also allowed the exercise to continue. What are your intentions?"

The man rubbed his eyes, which were red from the smoke, and said, "General Li, I have come here to tell you the truth."

"What truth? Isn't it obvious?" Li Yan was furious.

"No! Our troops have investigated and found that the enemy only used smoke and did not light any open flames, so it cannot be considered a fire attack."

"The exercise continues!"